thought, may hnve arrived at the conclusion that to forecast the nature or the duration of the penalty that will then fall on the transgressor is beyond our province, and that we can only take the l:rnguageof Scripture as it stands, without attempting to penetrate- the haze of 1lreadful mystery that hangs around it. But the broad and certain facts- of the case are such as may well affect us far more deeply than they do, and bring forth in us far richer and more abundant fruits of practical beneficence. It is to be feared that doctrinal controversy abon t the future teads to weaken rather than deepen and strengthen our impressions. We lose in speculation and debate the practical earnest- ness the subject itself might be expected to awaken. St. Paul lived in the clear iight of the future. His soul was thrilled by the sense of its tremendous reality. And though its issues probably were no more distinct and definite to his apprehension than they are to ours, yet his faith in their certainty was such as to stir up all the noble energies of his being in the endeavour to save his fellow-men. 2. But the foresight of the future was far from being the only thing that moved him; it was a present deliverance from a present calamity that he had in view. To save mcu now from the evil that enthrallc<l and cursed them, ruining their Godlike nature, darkening all the glory of their life,-this was the end he sought. He was no visionary. It was no object of remote and uncer- tain utility, but one of most practical and immediate urgency at which he aimed. Whatever its bearing on the future may be, the influence of the gospel on the present passing life of men is so benign and blessed that our utmost zeal in diffusing it is fully justi6cd. If we think of nothing more than the superficial social changes that Chris- tianity has introduced, how it is at this very hour the prolific root of all social progress in every Janel, we see here an ample reward for all the sacrifice8 that have ever been made for its extension. But beneath all this there lies the fact that, as sin is the ruining, destroying power in man's nature and life, it must needs be a Godlike purpose that seeks to deliver him from it (Matt. i. 21; Acts iii. 26). "That I may by all means save some." He could not hope for all, but if "some" only yic!ded to his persuasive word, it would be a blessed recompense. This is the inspiring hope of everr true preacher and worker for Christ. The net is cast, the arrow is shot at a venture; the issue is not now runde mnnifest. But a seemingly profitless work may be linked indirectly with results that are very great and glorious. Waves of spiritual influence, from a narrow circle, travel out where none can follow them. \Vhile there are those who shall find at last that the "great and wonderful things" they supposed they had done in the name of Obrist are little recognized, thero are others who will bo arnazerl to- discover that their l0wly endeavours hnve yielded fruits of which they ucver dreamed. And to "save some," to be able to lay some trophies nt the Master's feet, will \Jo a blessed reward. II. THE METHOD. "I am becomo all things to all men." It is rcmnrkablo that words which express the highest nobleness of nn npostolic spirit should have come to be used by us in familiar discourse ns descriptive of a typo of character and mode of conduct that is mean nnd despicable. It is suggestive of tho behaviour or oue who hns no steadfast principle, no honest outspokenness; tho mere obsequious time-server, full of smiles and gilded insincerities; who, to serve his own ends, can put on any· face that suits tho occasion; "Aman Versed in tho world ns pilot in his eomp11ss, Tho noedle pointing cvor to that interest Which is his lode-st11r, nml who spreads his sails With vantngo to the g11lo of others' p11ssion."
There wae nothing of this sort in Paul. Nothing could be more abhorrent to his spirit than a time-serving policy or a habit of smiling, plausible deceit. 'l'heso won'.s from his lips simply indicate that his strong desiro to save men and wi,~ them to Christ led him to enter as much as possible into their circumstances, to placo himself on their level. '!'bus would he disarm their prejudices and bring his heart into sympathetic contact with theirs. '!'bus would he commend to them the Jovo of him who" was made under the Law that he might redeem them that were under the Law;" "who for our sakes became poor, that wo through his poverty might be rnado rich.'' (Examples: Acts xvi, 3; xvii. 22-31; xxi. 26.) The lesson for nil Christian preacher:. 314 THE FJRST EPISTLE TO 'l'HE CORINTHIANS, [cu. Ix. 1-27.
:and workers is this: Cultivate a broad and generous human sympathy. In dealing with men in various conditions-doubt, error, poverty, sorrow, temptation, subjection to the power of evil-put yourself as much as possible in their place, if you would hope to guide, or comfort, or save them.-\V.